Westerfeld, Scott - Afterworlds - Informal Buddy Read: Start 18 January 2015

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This thread is for the discussion of Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld.



Book Synopsis:
Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings…

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

[V_Nerdbooks]

I have this one so I'll join in, but it may be later when I catch up with my others lol.

[Renee]

I have a couple of others I need to finish first, then I'll start this. I have 4 weeks to read it and get it back to the library. See you soon ;)

[K~Terror]

I have a couple I'm finishing up too and can start this whenever you guys are ready!

[Snowtulip]

Same here, I have it on loan, but would like to finish my duel books first ;)

Might start tonight or tomorrow.

[Renee]

Just started.
I have a paperback and the alternating chapters have shaded bands at the top and bottom of the pages so toy can tell if you are in the "real world" or in the "Novel ". On Page 5 and I had to stop to share this line. I love it.
"I'm too old for irony. That was sarcasm. "

[K~Terror]

Renee wrote: "Just started.
I have a paperback and the alternating chapters have shaded bands at the top and bottom of the pages so toy can tell if you are in the "real world" or in the "Novel ". On Page 5 and I..."

That was the mom's line from the novel world wasn't it?! Loved that line too!

Just started this too. I'm listening too it on audio (of course!) and I'm on Chapter 4 and there is a girl telling Lizzie she (view spoiler)[ is in the "afterworld". She's not dead but she needs to stay put in the afterworld if she doesn't want to die.

How do you spell the brother's name "yemerauge"??
(hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Yep. That was the mothers line.

Novel world girl is Yami and her brother Yamaraj.

I love audio too. I'm on a budget so I'll go for free books whenever I can. The library bought this one for me. Mmmm shiny new book.

[K~Terror]

You can't beat free! Love audio but sometimes it drives me crazy when I can't see a name - so thanks for the spellings!

By the way, not sure if it works from Australia but was able (view spoiler)[ to redeem AUDIBEL for $10 credit on account.
(hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Just finished Chapter 7
Drop bears! LOL, little bit of Aussie humour.
I'm really enjoying this. 2 YA novels for the price of one.

[K~Terror]

Nice! Which 2 did you get?

[Renee]

I meant this book, it has two novels in the same book.

[K~Terror]

Haha! Sorry - I'm slow!

[Renee]

Finished Chapter 10
Part of me wants to read all the novel bits in a row, but I won't let myself. That's like looking at the last page of a book, I just can't do it. I like learning snippets about the novel from the other parts.
(view spoiler)[ I learnt a new word - psychopomp. I hadn't come across that one before. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

I'm up to Chapter 7 and enjoying Darcy's first (view spoiler)[ mingle party with her fellow writers. Seems like kind of a fun group so far.
(hide spoiler)]

Just read up on the drop bear - real or not, they are NOT cute bears! LOL!

[K~Terror]

Chapter 14 (half way through)

The whole thing with (view spoiler)[ this little Mindy is interesting. I'm glad Lizzie's mom ended up telling her about what happened to her best friend. Creepy how she was taken while on vacation but buried in her back yard... I'm thinking this is going to go someplace more sinister...

One of my good friends had a child abducted in her neighborhood when she was about 10 -- and the kid abducted was about the same age. You really can't get over something like that. She is super over protective with her kids, so if you don't understand her history, it would seem so odd to an outsider. Now that I know, I think it's amazing she hasn't attached some sort of tracker to their bodies and monitor them around the clock! So scary what some of the people in this world are capable of.

As for Darcy, I'm loving her aunt! It was very cool of her to co-sign in that apartment. The apartment itself sounds really unusual but can see how it would be more conducive to writing when you live in such an interesting area. I hope her new found friend is as wonderful as she seems. I'm usually not as trusting - but then again, I'm not 17-18 years old. (Thank goodness!). It's a lot of change and responsibility for such a young kid. Not sure Darcy should have mentioned how much money she made selling her books... Hopefully that doesn't come back to bite her. I sort of get the feeling some of the writers she's met can be insecure and back stabbing... (hide spoiler)]

So which story are you enjoying the most so far - Lizzie's or Darcy's?

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Chapter 14 (half way through)

The whole thing ..."

I agree (view spoiler)[ It does feel like it will go somewhere more sinister, but I guess the male love interest is a death god..... I think Mindy's abductor was someone she knew.

I'd love to live in a dance studio! I'd be too busy dancing to get any writing done. The mirrors would really brighten and open the place up, but it would take a while to get used to seeing myself all the time. Don't think I'd walk around in the nude...

Darcy is very young and naive. I don't think she should have disclosed what she was getting paid either. Iv'e read a bit further and her friendship is getting stronger with Imogen. (hide spoiler)]

I'm enjoying both stories. I like the crossover between the two. Darcy's story helps you understand Lizzie's story more. Lizzie's is more exciting but Darcy's is more real. Do you have a favourite?

[K~Terror]

In the beginning I couldn't wait to get back to Lizzie's story but now I'm liking both equally. I can tell because I'm always bummed when it's time to swap stories because I want to keep in reading whichever one I'm currently on...

Glad to hear (view spoiler)[ the friendship with Imogene is panning out.

I was thinking the same thing about Mindy's abductor being someone who knows her... (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

This is my favourite of the 4 books I'm currently reading.

[K~Terror]

It seems kind of weird that Darcy's parents aren't more involved in getting Darcy set up in her new apartment and so forth.. I think my parents would have been excited and want to make sure I was at least set up with the basics... Especially as young as Darcy is - just to send her off like that.

[K~Terror]

Ohhhhh (view spoiler)[ So Imogine LIKES HER likes her... Interesting...
Wonder if she thought about girls before? (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Ohhhhh"
I hadn't seen that coming either.

[K~Terror]

Lol! Ya, me either. :)

I just saw where you said this is your favorite if your four current reads. I am really enjoying it too. I think Lizzie's world has me the most curious right now...

[Renee]

Just finished chapter 19
(view spoiler)[ Hmmm I wonder what Imogen's name really is. And I wonder if she really had a friend who was a fire starter or if she was herself. (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

**Scavenger hunt**
Chapter 8 - in the desert

[K~Terror]

Renee wrote: "**Scavenger hunt**
Chapter 8 - in the desert"
Good catch!!!

[K~Terror]

Renee wrote: "Just finished chapter 19
[spoilers removed]"

Ya, there's something (view spoiler)[ more to her not wanting to reveal her real name... Is Ariel in Chapter 19 Imogene thinking back or a chapter from Imogene's book. I feel like I missed something.. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Chapter 19 - II
(view spoiler)[ OK - I was just being impatient. LOL! Apparently Sarcy was reading Imogene's book. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Finding humor in the "Angelina Jolie Paradox" :)

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Renee wrote: "**Scavenger hunt**
Chapter 8 - in the desert"
Good catch!!!"

I did suggest drop bear as an Aussie word, but that one didn't make the cut. LOL! I hunted through all my currently reading books and found something.

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Renee wrote: "Just finished chapter 19
[spoilers removed]"

Ya, there's something [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Ariel Flint is the character from Imogen's book, that was the beginning of it. I don't think we will get the whole thing though. (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Chapter 19 - II
[spoilers removed]"

Yes, I was being impatient too, not reading all your posts before replying. LOL.

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Finding humor in the "Angelina Jolie Paradox" :)"

I loved that explanation too.

[Renee]

Finished Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[ Ooo Lizzie, don't trust that old psychopomp, he gives me the willies.

I wonder if Darcy and Imogen will get a happy ending? Or Lizzie and Yama. In the first draft Yama dies at the end. I wonder if Darcy will keep that ending or change it to a happy ending. There are lots of parallels in the stories - first kiss, making a new friend, starting a new career. I wonder if they will finish the same or go in different directions (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Chapter 29
(view spoiler)[ I loved the debate over which of the 5 elements of a story was most important.

I was worried that Darcy and Imogen working so close that someone would steal the other's idea. Darcy did it first with the closet scene.

I don't think Imogen is likely to start a fire anymore. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Renee wrote: "Finished Chapter 26
Ooo Lizzie, don't trust that old psychopomp, he gives me the willies.

I wonder if Darcy and Imogen will get a happy ending? Or Lizzie and Yama. In the first draft Yama dies at..."

I was wondering about that too. (view spoiler)[ Luckily Kiera (?writer with Imogene and Darcy?) had some suggestions... Good, sad, and bittersweet... It will be interesting to see what she ends up doing with her story.. (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Chapter 30
(view spoiler)[ Ooo I think scary psychopomp with the patched coat wants Yami - Yama's sister....She died feeling loved. And he asked Lizzie to tell Yama that he is hungry. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

I'm almost to Chapter 26. Spoilers are great motivators!!

[K~Terror]

CHAPTER 31
(view spoiler)[ AUDREY FLENDERSON! Finally!!

Not a fan of scary psychopomp! (Still think it's a weird term!).
I thought Yama was being kind of weird about pushing her away and not help Mindy... Seems he doesn't mind helping the "non-livers".. Funny he's so opinionated about her and not wanting her to help. (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "CHAPTER 31..."
(view spoiler)[ I wonder what Darcy will find about "Audrey" on Google. I still think of her as Imogen. Imogen Gray is a better pen name than Audrey Flenderson. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Chapter 34
(view spoiler)[ Wow. So she killed the bad man.... And called in the creepy psychopomp to help with clean up... Hmm... This probably won't go anywhere good...

Darcy just told her parents about Imogene. Seemed like it went as she expected. Love her little sister, the little math wiz.

Why do you think Darcy's mom isn't recognizing Mindy in her book?
(hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Chapter 38

(view spoiler)[ So much happening now. I'm with Lizzie after she and Yama escaped the creepy guy. Yama is severely injured. I feel so bad for him & he's handled Lizzie so nicely despite her inadvertently bringing creepy guy to the dead souls he's been protecting.

(hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Towards the End if Chapter 41

(view spoiler)[
Oh the tension!!!!
(hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[ I had to think about the ending and how I felt about it. Neither Darcy or Lizzie got the fairy tale HEA - but I think they will have a HEA.

I don't know if Yama will be able to get past what she did, but the book seemed to leave it as a possibility. So, in my mind, I think it's good that she's grown up a bit and was able to come to terms with the horrible airport tragedy - and is now focusing in being there for her mom and also to be a better friend to Jamie. I'm not sure how I feel about her killing that sicko either, but when I see how it made such a big difference to Mindy in taking that pain & fear from her, I can see how there was a positive that came from it I guess. Interesting Yami helped cover up the murder.

As for Darcy, I think I felt better for her ending.. I'm glad she and Imogene were speaking again and seemed interested in each other still. Although, I do think it's good Darcy may actually go to school and focus on herself for awhile. She's so young.

Loved how Imogene's book became such a success with the luck of the picture giving her free advertising! It was interesting getting the perspective of the young writers... So much pressure and neither really seemed to have much support or objective sounding boards. I guess that kind of surprised me the most. I picture writers talking through their stories with different people to get different perspectives and make tweaks to make things work better if necessary. But really, it makes it sound like they write their stories from their own little world and then get editing feedback.

(hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Chapter 34.."

(view spoiler)[ I was hoping she wouldn't kill him but I thought it was inevitable.

Glad she told her family. I love her little sister too.

Maybe her mum supressed it all, or just forgot because it was so long ago. Our didn't want to discuss it at the dinner table. (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Chapter 38..."

(view spoiler)[ The bunyip dream threw me for a bit. Imogen has gone home. Part of me wants them to work things out. But then I think of my first romance at a similar age with a guy 5 years older and it wasn't the right time for me to settle down. It was part of my learning experiences.

Yama was very understanding but I think he should have taught Lizzie more earlier instead of trying to protect her. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Yes! I thought so too. (view spoiler)[ I think it was maybe even more his fault she led the scary man to his world...

I was kind of surprised when Imogene decided they needed a break too. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

I'm reading and they are talking about psychopomps!

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "I'm reading and they are talking about psychopomps!"

LOL I'd never heard that word before. I've had about 4 books that mentioned lumberjacks lately too. They come in waves!

[Renee]

Finished too!
(view spoiler)[ I don't think the fairytale ending would be right for either story. I thought they needed to have the same kind of endings, and they both got the hopeful bittersweet feeling. I loved the end of Darcy's. "You don't think happy endings are stupid anymore?" "You're question is irrelevant" Imogen said. "this isn't the end".

I agree with all your points too Kristin. (hide spoiler)]

I'm glad I read this. I probably wouldn't have picked this up on my own (especially since my library didn't have it and bought it on my request) Thank's Nadia - my not so secret santa - for the recommendation.